[PCW] Hybrid cats

[Malcolm Tennant]

Pat Reischman.

Dear Pat,

On the Cordova we actually had hydraulically operated "tandem" dagger boards
originally because nobody knew how the boat would perform to windward. After a
year the owner removed these and blocked off the holes. The reasons were
twofold. [1] the engines needed to be run to power up the hydraulics when
operating the boards as the hydraulics very quickly drained the batteries. [2]
they were simply not needed. because there was no rocker in the keel, and the
very fine hull shape, the Cordova went to windward better than all but the
most extreme racing catamarans. And, as the owner said- "if I want to beat the
raceboats to windward I just turn on the engines".  You have to keep
remembering that we are talking about motor sailers, not racing sail boats,
and that this leads to different expectations and a completely different
performance envelope. Most sailers motor in light weather and we all know that
"gentlemen" do not sail to weather.

Even in the 10 to 12 knot range the CS hull is still more fuel efficient.

All sailing catamarans suffer a wetted surface/sail area penalty in light
winds. It is the nature of the beast. You just put on a bigger rig or turn on
the engines.

Malcolm Tennant.

MALCOLM TENNANT MULTIHULL DESIGN LTD
PO Box 60513, Titirangi.
Waitakere 0642
NEW ZEALAND
Ph: +64 9 817 1988
e-mail: malcolm at tennantdesign.co.nz
www.tennantdesign.co.nz
www.catdesigners.com